Street and station indicator.



v J. H. EBERT.

STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1912.

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STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3. I912.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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ET FFIQE.

JOHN H. EBERT, OF TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS.

STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

Application filed March 13, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. EBERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taylor-ville, in the county of Christian sive nature and of a durable and compact construction, which shall be capable of convenient adjustment in position within a car, to accurately indicate the next street or station, the apron carrying the directory being tensionally held at all times.

A further object is to provide a street and station indicator including an apron on which-the streets or stations are shown by letters formed by perforating the apron, so that by placing an incandescent bulb to the rear of the apron, the legends will be distinctly seen.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the appended claims, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and. described may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1, shows an elevational view partly in section of a street car indicator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a sectional detail of the tensionally held gear. Fig. 3, is an end view. Fig. 4:, shows a vertical transverse sectional view. Fig. 5, shows an enlarged detached detail of one of the pawl arms. Fig. 6, is a fragmentary detail of one of the drivengears. Fig.

'7 shows a detail of the pawls and ratchets as used in my invention. 7

' In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ a housing including the back 1, bottom 2, top 3, the two similar ends 6, and

the front 4. The housing is reduced trans- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 683,597.

versely, as shown in Fig. 4:, in that the centrally positioned front housing section 4:, 1s very much nearer the back 1, than are the main front sections 4:, the sections a and t being connected by means of the obliquely held panels 5. The centrally positioned section 4:, has an aperture covered by the glass plate 5.

vTransversely held within the housing is a drive shaft 7, this shaft working within suitable bearings 9, 9 shown in Fig. 1. IVithin the housing this drive shaft is provided with the sprocket wheels 8 and 8. As shown in Fig. 1, the drive shaft 7, projects at one end beyond the housing, the projecting end givmg support to the outer ratchet wheel 10, and the inner ratchet wheel 10. Positioned between the ratchet wheels 10 and 10, is the pawl arm 11, shown in Fig. 3, while positioned adjacent to the ratchet wheel 10, is the pawl arm 12, each pawl arm being provided with a pawl 13, working in conjunction with a leaf spring 14, insuring the pawls being normally in engagement with their connected ratchets. Each pawl arm ends in an eye 15, arranged to be engaged by a snap hook 16, secured to the end of the operating cord 17.

Limiting the forward movement of the pawl arm 11, is the stop pin 18, while limiting the rearward movement of this pawl arm is the stop 18. The forward movement of the pawl arm 12, is limited by the stop pin 19, and the rearward movement by the stop pin 19, these pins being clearly shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bearing 9, supporting the inner end of the driving shaft 7, is held within the vertically held partition 50, the inner end of the shaft having fixed to it, the chain sprockets 23 and 13.

Projecting laterally outward from the casing is an ear 20, to which is secured a coil spring 21, at its forward end being fixed to the pawl arm 11, so that this pawl arm is normally held in a retracted position against the rear stop pin 18'. Positioned below the ear 20, is the ear 20, giving support to the coil spring 21, secured tothe pawl arm 12, to hold this pawl arm normally in retracted position against its stop pin 19, as shown in Fig. 3. Each pawl arm 11 and 12, is provided with an opening arranged to removably receive a pin 22, so that either pawl may be held out of engagement with its ratchet wheel, when that is necessary. In

Figs. 3 and 5, a pin 22, is shown in position holding the pawl 13, carried by the pawl arm 12, out of working engagement.

Secured to the end of the shaft 7, within the housing, as shown in Fig. 1, are the chain sprockets 23 and 13 while held in parallel relation with the drive shaft 7, and located between one end of the housing and the partition are the spool shafts 24 and 25, the shaft 24 carrying the chain sprocket 54, and the shaft 25, a similar chain sprocket 54, the first carrying the chain 26, passing over the sprocket 23 whilethe second chain sprocket 54, carries the chain 27, engaging the chain sprocket 13. By means of the chains 26 and 27, and the chain gears, the spool shafts are operatively connected to the drive shaft 7. As the diameter of the winding spool steadily increases, and the diameter of the unwinding spool steadily decreases, I tensionally connect the upper and lower driven sprockets 54 to their shafts. As both the shafts 24 and 25 are constructed alike and each holds a similar sprocket 54, the upper sprocket, secured to the spool shaft 24 will only be described. Each spool shaft has a conical bearing shoulder 52, shown in Fig. 2, from which is continued a square neck 57,

ending in, the reduced threaded stem '62.

Revolubly held against the conical bearing shoulder 52 of each shaft is a conical collar 53 formed on the gear 54, the inner bearing 56 frictionally engaging the shoulder 52. In order to hold the gears to their bearings under proper tension, I employ the cup washer 58, the inner bearing surface 55 of which engages the collar 53. As these cup washers are held upon the square portions 57, they turn with their connected shafts, though being slidably held thereon.

Screwing upon each stem (32, are the wing nuts 61, working against a flat washer 60, and held between each washer 60 and cup washer 58, is a coil spring 59, the tension of which is regulated by means of the nut 61.

As shown in Fig. 6, each sprocket 54 has a ratchet 56, and engaging these ratchets are the pawls 52, held to a lug 51, extending from the partition 50. Each sprocket 54, can only turn in one direction.

The driving gears 13 and 23 as shown in Fig. 7 are connected to the shaft 7, by means of suitable pawls n and n pivotally secured respectively by the pins m and m. The pawl it engages a ratchet 7), while the pawl n engages a ratchet 0, so that when the shaft 7 rot-ates in one direction, the gear 13 remains stationary, while when the shaft turns in an opposite direction, the gear 23 remains stationary. From this it will be understood, that in operating the device, only one gear 54 is actuated though the spool shafts are simultaneously actuated.

Held to the upper shaft 24, is a spool 34, while secured to the lower shaft is a spool secured to the spool 35. This apron 38, has

its opposite edges provided with the chains,

39 and 40, these chains being of any suitable material. If desired, the edges of the apron may be reinforced by means of a suitable pliable material and provided with a series of tooth ooenin s arran ed' to be en-[ gaged by the teeth of the sprocket wheels 8 and 8, as is shownin Fig. 4.

Held at one end within bearing openings of the housing, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the opposite end working within the partition 50, shown in Fig. 4, are therollers 41 and 42, which are positioned adjacent to the central housing panel 4, and are employed to hold the apron parallel to the panel portion 4, and in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket wheels 8 and 8.

Secured to the housing at is a bracket 42, carrying a grooved sheave 43, over which the operating strand 17,

a suitable point i passes, this strand being further given support by means of the sheave 44, carried by the ear 45, as shown in Fig; 3..

The apron 38, is provided with a street or station directory, the letters of which are imprinted upon the apron, so that the words can be clearly read. In order that the words or le ends indicating a station may be clearly read at night, I perforate the apron,

shown in Fig. 2, the perforations following the outlines of the letters. To the rear of the aperture within the central panel 4, and covered by the glass plate 5, tioned a series of incandescent electric bulbs 45, carried by the brackets 46, as shown in Fig. 4, these lights 45', having suitable electric connections. here the station indicator is not used in connection with electrically propelled cars, any other suitable,

illumination behind. the apron may be employed.

In the use of my invention, as the car predetermined distance to bring the apron section disclosing the next station to the rear of the glass plate 5. The shaft-.7, is always rotated a predetermined distance, so that one 'of the 24 or 25, is also rotated at each movement of the drive shaft 7, a predetermineddistance, to turn their connected spools 34- and 35. However, as the belt is advanced, it first unwinds from a coil of a much greater diameter than that of the winding or receiving spool, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the'belt portion between the spool would not be'taut if it were not for the mechanism including,

are pos1- connected sprocket shafts.

' the cup washer 58, and the gear 54:. This gear as shown in Fig. 2, has the extending cone collar 53 and the inner bearing 56. Upon its inner face the gear 5 1 further has the ratchet teeth 56.

As shown the partition 50, is provided with an car 51, which supports a pin 53, pivotally holding the pawl 52, working in conjunction with the ratchet teeth 56, thus preventing the gear 54: from turning in one direction.

Held upon the shaft 24, which has a shoulder bearing 52, which is arranged for coaction with the inner bearing 56 is the cup washer 58. This cup washer is provided with the inner bearing 55 arranged for coaction with the cone bearing 53 as shown. By means of this braking mechanism the shaft 24 can be rotated independent of the gear 54:, in a rearward direction. Through this compensating means the web 38, can be unwound at either end. It is of course understood that both the spool shafts are provided with this braking mechanism.

In Fig. 3, the mechanism is arranged so that the apron is wound upon the lower spool. Upon the return trip the apron would have to be wound in an opposite direction. Before starting then, the operator would remove the pin 22, carried by the lower pawl arm 12, and place the same within the opening of the upper pawl arm to throw the upper pawl arm out of working operation and bring the snap hook 16, into engagement with the eye 15, of the lower pawl arm 12, the drive shaft 7 upon operating the strand 17, will rotate in an opposite direction so that the top spool 24:, becomes the winding spool, the operation being as has been described. It is of course understood that the apron could at each step be advanced a distance sufficient so that the apron could carry certain advertising legends in addition to the street and station directory.

A station indicator constructed according to my invention can be readily operated and is of simple construction, while being positive in operation.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, two spool shafts held in parallel spaced relation, an intermediately positioned driving shaft, two driving sprockets upon said driving shaft, ratchet mechanisms to connect said sprockets to said driving shaft, a chain sprocket tensionally held upon each spool shaft, and a chain passing over each chain sprocket and a driving sprocket, each of said chain sprockets having a ratchet and a pawl arranged to engage each ratchet.

2. The combination with a shaft having a shoulder, of a ratchet faced sprocket revolubly held upon said shaft frictionally engaging said shoulder, a washer slidably held upon said shaft and frictionally engaging said sprocket, a nut upon the end of said shaft, a spring held between said nut and washer to normally force said washer into engagement with said sprocket, and a pawl in normal engagement with said ratchet face, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A device of the character described, including in combination, a shaft having a shoulder bearing and a square portion adjacent thereto, a ratchet faced sprocket having an inner bearing for co-action with said shoulder bearing and an outer cone collar, a suitably held pawl engaging said ratchet face, a slidably held cup washer upon said square portion having an inner bearing arranged for co-action with said cone, a spring to force said cup washer against said cone collar, and means secured to said shaft to force said spring against said washer.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. EBERT.

Witnesses:

GUY F. HERSHEY, HARRIET PENNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

